Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

An agenda for Putin’s first 100 Days

Public Service Europe

A comprehensive human rights agenda for Russia should be adopted this summer and then carried through to prove Putin is serious, says human rights group

Four years ago – when Dmitry Medvedev was taking over as the president of Russia – an international correspondent asked me for one word to describe Vladimir Putin’s 2000-2008 presidency. I came up with three, “so-called stability”. Despite all the patriotic rhetoric lately, not many in Russia expect that Putin’s new term will bring another six years of “stability”. No one wants turbulence, of course, but unresolved political, social and human rights issues are growing increasingly visible and pressing. Adopting a 100-day agenda focused on these unresolved issues would be a good start.

The Russian election cycle never fails to surprise. News about the president and prime minister’s plans to swap seats in 2012 led to a major political awakening in the country. The biggest crowds since the 1990s showed up on the streets of Moscow and other large Russian cities. Now the “swapping scenario” is close to its end. Yet, in a sign that Russia’s restive mood continues, another opposition protest in Moscow – with estimates of up to 60,000 participants – took place on May 6. The protest was marred by violence from some of the protesters and an excessive and indiscriminate use of police force in response. According to the Interfax new service, 436 people were detained; while other independent sources provided names of almost 650 detainees. Detentions of peaceful protesters on the Moscow boulevards continued on May 7 and May 8.